One of James least favourite places was the Sodor Coaling Plant. He didn't like it because of the coal dust flying everywhere, and he was obsessed with keeping his paintwork clean.
But he did like the manager. He was a kind man, always saying hello to people, smiling and he also volunteered at an animal shelter and a charity shop as well as doing his regular job. The manager, whose name was Oliver Swan, always complimented on James' paintwork as well, which played a big role in James' reason for liking him. But there were other factors too.
Mr Swan, as well as kind, was organised and efficient. He knew which engines should be at the Coaling Plant and what they were meant to be doing. He was very careful never to mislay his keys- though it had happened before- and was a husband to Arlene Henderson and father to little Wendy Swan.
One morning, James was assigned to shunting trucks at the Coaling Plant. He hoped that he would see Mr Swan that day and now he was going to!
He had raced to the coaling plant quicker than he ever recalled.
...
"Please, Mr Miller, I will not require your assistance!" Mr Swan announced stubbornly
"But Sir- you were going to faint!" His assistant protested
James slowed to a stop. He was upset to find out that Mr Swan looked very peaky.
"Help him to the office- someone better phone Arlene and tell her the news."
Arlene Swan was Mr Swan's wife. She was a fiery small person not easily imitated by her taller husband, whom she loved dearly. However she had a heart of gold and adored her daughter Wendy.
James watched as his friend was helped towards the office coughing and hacking his lungs out form the sound of things. The red engine winced.
"Mr Mills... get a relief... a relief ...man for me," he coughed. "James is working here today and the plant requires supervision."
"What rot- I do need supervision! I can work perfectly well on my own!" Hissed the red engine, mishearing what Oliver Swan had just said.
"I think he meant the Plant, James." Replied the fireman, whilst the driver face palmed.
"Oh... I get it." James murmured, and then he set off to find his trucks.
...
Later James was shunting trucks, sad that Mr Swan had gone home, when he heard a noise.
"What the-"
A small red moped was parked outside the office building!
"I recognise that thing..." He murmured.
"Thank goodness you're here!" Cried Jack Mills.
"Happy to be of service Ja- Mr Mills!" answered a voice James knew too well.
"Sophie?"
Her face broke out into a big grin. "James! Long-time no see!"
She ran over to him.
"So what brings you here?" James asked curiously. "You're normally at the flour mill."
"Good question- I'm helping out with the management- Mr Mills asked me to help out for the day."
"Really?"
"Yes. Oliver is an old friend and colleague of me. He always gets hit hard by illness so I've taken to help Jack Mills run the place until he comes back."
"I see."
"Why-were you worried Mr Davis would come for you?" She teased
"Who?"
"Mr Davis- most terrifying foreman alive. I know the engines at the Skarloey Railway and they have to put up with him. Many say he claims people's souls just by torturing them with endless lectures for the most trivial things!"
The red engine shivered.
"Yeah, he's just plain loopy that guy. Very antisocial, if you ask me. Right, I believe you have coal to take to the Docks, my good engine."
James tooted in response and set off to collect them.
He knew that he enjoyed that he liked having Mr Swan as manager here and he wouldn't like that to change.
However, when that wasn't possible, he could place his trust in someone to supervise the Coaling Plant.
Especially if they were like Sophie- and not like that terrifying Mr Davis he had heard about!